The Air-Sea Interaction. Masanori Konda Kyoto University

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1 2 The Air-Sea Interaction Masanori Konda Kyoto University

2 2.1 Feedback between Ocean and Atmosphere Heat and momentum exchange between the ocean and atmosphere Atmospheric circulation Condensation heat Convective activity Large scale circulation Heating Latent heat (Evaporation) Ocean winds Wind stress Sea surface temperature Cooling Change of the sea surface temperature by through the mixed layer processes Ekman transport Oceanic heat transport at various scales Wind-driven circulation Fig Schematic view of the interaction between ocean and atmosphere 12km The shortwave solar insolation provides the energy that drives the geophysical fluids including ocean and atmosphere. In the troposphere (which ranges from the Earth's surface to a height of 12km) where we live, radiation energy warms the ocean surface before transferring to the atmosphere through sensible heat and the latent heat of evaporation. This force drives atmospheric circulations at various scales. In turn, the wind drives ocean circulation. Wind and evaporative cooling at the sea surface affect the temperature in the ocean mixed layer, where the temperature and the salinity are almost uniform. This important feedback system plays a major role in maintaining the geophysical fluid motion through the exchange of energy between ocean and atmosphere. The calm global climate is attributable to meridional heat transport by oceanic and atmospheric circulation. The oceanic wind contributes to the mixed layer processes through the input of turbulent energy and also through the density flux caused by evaporative cooling. As a result, the feedback system starts again, heating the atmosphere by evaporation at the sea surface. 11

For example, SST is generally high at low latitudes, and low at middle and high latitudes.

3 2.2 Interannual Variation of Sea Surface Temperature and Ocean Wind Mean Sea Surface Temperature in Dec [ C] The sea surface temperature (SST) and the wind field over the oceans are almost in a steady state due to the persistent air-sea global-interaction system. For example, SST is generally high at low latitudes, and low at middle and high latitudes. However, careful inspection of SST distribution demonstrates that some contours are not parallel to the latitude, such as in the northeast Pacific and the north Atlantic. This meridional inclination of the SST distribution should reflect to some extent the ocean currents. We see the highest SST in the Indonesian archipelago, known as the warm water pool, which is maintained by the Trade wind. In contrast, we also see a low SST along the equator in the eastern tropical Pacific known as the cold tongue. The map of the ocean wind in the figures demonstrates the typical distribution in the boreal winter. The high wind speed in the mid latitudes should reflect the marked stationary high and low pressures. The wind speed is low over the Indonesian archipelago and the other notable atmospheric convergence zones. Mean Sea Surface Wind in Dec [m/s] Land surface Data missing AMSR-E 12 Fig Global distribution of monthly averaged SST and wind speed in December as observed by AMSR-E

7.3 - - - - Mean Sea Surface Temperature in Dec. 23 9 135 18-135 -9-23 23 3 6 9 12 18 21 27 33 [ C] - - - - Mean Sea Surface Wind in Dec.

One of the most notable large-scale variations of the SST is the El Niño, which cause the SST over the equatorial Pacific to change interannually.

A comparison of SST in with those in 23, when El Niño did not occur, reveals a warmer SST in the eastern Pacific with a suppressed cold tongue and lower SST in the western Pacific in.

4 Mean Sea Surface Temperature in Dec [ C] Mean Sea Surface Wind in Dec On the other hand, air-sea interaction changes both the ocean and the atmosphere. One of the most notable large-scale variations of the SST is the El Niño, which cause the SST over the equatorial Pacific to change interannually. The close air-sea interaction plays an important role in this phenomenon. El Niño began developing in spring of, and reached its mature phase in winter. A comparison of SST in with those in 23, when El Niño did not occur, reveals a warmer SST in the eastern Pacific with a suppressed cold tongue and lower SST in the western Pacific in. Simultaneously, the region with low wind, representing the atmospheric convergence at the surface level, moved eastward in. This indicated a strong air-sea coupling, and it shifted both the anomalously high SST and the atmospheric convergence zone to the east [m/s] Land surface Data missing AMSR-E Fig Global distribution of monthly averaged SST and wind speed in December 23 as observed by AMSR-E 13

2.3 Large Heat Release over the Florida Current and the Gulf Stream 5W/m 2 1m 3 C ( a ) AMSR-E Sea Surface Temperature on Dec. 3, 23-84 -8-76 -72-68 -64 14 [ C] ( b ) AMSR-E Sea Surface Wind on Dec.

The figure shows an area of extremely large latent heat flux just over the warm current.

A cooling of 5W/m 2 in latent heat flux would decrease the temperature of the ocean from the surface to a depth of 1m by 3 C in one month, indicating the magnitude of the thermal effect of the strong

5 2.3 Large Heat Release over the Florida Current and the Gulf Stream 5W/m 2 1m 3 C ( a ) AMSR-E Sea Surface Temperature on Dec. 3, [ C] ( b ) AMSR-E Sea Surface Wind on Dec. 3, [m/s] The Florida Current is a strong western boundary current similar to the Kuroshio, and the Gulf Stream is its extension. The figure shows an area of extremely large latent heat flux just over the warm current. The rapid increase of evaporation over the warm SST is attributable to the nonlinear increase of water vapor capacity in the atmosphere, proportional to the temperature. A cooling of 5W/m 2 in latent heat flux would decrease the temperature of the ocean from the surface to a depth of 1m by 3 C in one month, indicating the magnitude of the thermal effect of the strong meridional flow. On the other hand, the strong temperature front and the strong wind prevailing in this region indicate that the warm water carried by the strong meridional current and the strong wind in the winter both contribute to the significant levels of latent heat flux. ( c ) AMSR-E Latent Heat Flux on Dec. 3, [W/m 2 ] Land surface Data missing AMSR-E a b c Fig Snapshots from AMSR-E on the east coast of America on December 3, 23 depicting (a) SST, (b) wind speed, and (c) latent heat flux

2.4 Gradual Increase of Evaporation in the East China Sea in Winter ( a ) AMSR-E Latent Heat Flux on Dec.

2, 23 ( d ) AMSR-E Water Vapor Pressure on Dec. 2, 23 35 7 [W/m 2 ] 8 19 [ C] 1 2 [m/s] [hpa] 2.4.

1 Snapshots from AMSR-E in the East China Sea on December 2, 23 depicting (a) latent heat flux, (b) SST, (c) wind

Black arrows in (a) indicate wind vector in the same day observed by SeaWinds on QuikSCAT.

winter near Japan, and it causes strong evaporation downstream.

Before it is able to cool the sea surface by evaporation, the cold, dry atmosphere must first be warmed by the sea

6 2.4 Gradual Increase of Evaporation in the East China Sea in Winter ( a ) AMSR-E Latent Heat Flux on Dec. 2, 23 ( b ) AMSR-E Sea Surface Temperature on Dec. 2, 23 ( c ) AMSR-E Sea Surface Wind on Dec. 2, 23 ( d ) AMSR-E Water Vapor Pressure on Dec. 2, [W/m 2 ] 8 19 [ C] 1 2 [m/s] [hpa] AMSR-E a b c d a QuikSCAT SeaWinds Fig Snapshots from AMSR-E in the East China Sea on December 2, 23 depicting (a) latent heat flux, (b) SST, (c) wind speed, and (d) water vapor pressure. Black arrows in (a) indicate wind vector in the same day observed by SeaWinds on QuikSCAT W/m 2 The strong blowout of the cold, dry atmosphere from the continent is a typical phenomenon in the winter near Japan, and it causes strong evaporation downstream. However, the dry atmosphere itself is not enough to cause active evaporation. Before it is able to cool the sea surface by evaporation, the cold, dry atmosphere must first be warmed by the sea surface, becoming a warm, dry atmosphere that can contain a large amount of water vapor. It is obvious from the December 2, 23 data that maximum evaporation occurs south of Kyushu, even though the strong blowout is prevailing over the East China Sea. The distribution of water vapor near the sea surface clearly demonstrates that the humidity of the atmosphere increases in proportion to the enhanced evaporation in the downstream winds.

Lecture 13 El Niño/La Niña Ocean-Atmosphere Interaction. Idealized 3-Cell Model of Wind Patterns on a Rotating Earth. Previous Lecture!

Lecture 13 El Niño/La Niña Ocean-Atmosphere Interaction Previous Lecture! Global Winds General Circulation of winds at the surface and aloft Polar Jet Stream Subtropical Jet Stream Monsoons 1 2 Radiation